State of Gifted and Talented Education in Massachusetts

Update: As of September 2002, we believe ALL FUNDING FOR GIFTED & TALENTED IN MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!!!

• Dual Enrollment has been de-funded (the Boston Globe reports it benefited many inner city youth)
• AP program funding has been eliminated
• Gifted & Talented program funding has been eliminated

Gifted and Talented Programs

Presently, Massachusetts law does not provide for systematic identification of gifted and talented children or ensure that appropriate programming is offered.  Some lawmakers have introduced bills to support gifted education.  For example, in 2001 two bills were introduced:

Senate, No. 260 introduced by Robert Havern would have defined "exceptional students" and required local school services for them.

Senate, No. 245 introduced by Edward Clancy, Jr. would have required every school district to provide gifted and talented programs in English and Mathematics.

Funding

Funding for gifted programs had been relatively limited.  Prior to 2002: 

	GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN GRANT PROGRAM
	7061-9621	For grants to cities, towns, and regional school districts for the costs associated with programs for gifted and talented students; provided, that the funds appropriated in this item shall be in addition to any federal funds available for said programs	$437,970

The Massachusetts Department of Education estimates that 75,000 students in Massachusetts are gifted and talented.  Can one really expect appropriate programming at less than $6 per student?  (And it seems our political leadership now even thinks $6 is too much!)

Board of Education Advisory Council on Gifted and Talented Education

An advisory council exists to advise the Commissioner and Board of Education on matters related to gifted and talented education.  For some time the council has been working with the Commissioner on a defintion of "gifted", and it looks like closure will be reached soon.  Also, progress has been made towards creating a teacher certification status specific to gifted and talented teaching.  However, at this point no schools of education offer such a program. 

Two MAGE board members are presently on the advisory council (2002-3): Mark Andersen and Muriel Driscoll.